As has been the case in recent years, Siemens is taking over a complete hall at the SPS automation trade fair in Nuremberg next week.
At SPS 2024, Siemens will be showing a wide range of new products and solutions and the new version TIA Portal V20 will be launched.
With TIA Portal V20, Siemens wants to offer more performance in the SIMATIC control portfolio for industrial production. This goes hand in hand with the new generation of S7-1200 G2 PLCs, the increase in performance of S7-1511 and S7-1513, the introduction of new modular S7-1500 CPUs up to the highest performance class of the new S7-1500 T/TF CPU and the new software driver 1508S T/TF V40.0.
For improved engineering, TIA Portal V20 offers expanded functions, such as support for new PLCs with motion control and safety functions. The updated version also enables text-based, graphical code representation by humans, allowing easy use of external tools (e.g. GIT, Beyond Compare) and code generation. This aims to offer users greater programming convenience.
TIA Portal V20 is designed to offer an agile and efficient development platform with support for Module Type Package (MTP) and OPC UA communication. These new features increase flexibility and standardize integration between different systems, with state-of-the-art communication via PROFINET and Ethernet APL, making it easier to create distributed automation networks. With new integrated tools and libraries, TIA Portal V20 helps to reduce development time and implementation of complex systems, improving collaboration between teams and accelerating digital transformation.
The security aspect is also continuously improved. With TIA Portal20, user management for several PLCs in one system is possible and data is only accessible to authorized users.
TIA Portal Version 20 focuses on performance and efficiency enhancements for users, who will benefit from improved time-to-market, increased competitiveness, and agile adaptation to rapidly changing markets. The new version integrates new programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and simplifies handling for engineers.
Rainer Brehm, CEO Factory Automation at Siemens, explains: “Fully integrated automation as offered in the TIA portfolio is the foundation for expanding toward software-defined automation. With TIA Portal Version 20, users can boost the performance across the board and leverage the most modern functionalities of PLCs – including AI, integrated testing and enhanced security.”.
Security features are also being continuously improved. With TIA Portal Version 20, Simatic PLCs can be connected to the central user management system for the shopfloor. User management access control (UMAC) allows service technicians to easily access their shopfloor devices while using their standard enterprise credentials – without compromising security. UMAC is in turn connected to the standard identity provider service in the customer’s infrastructure: for example, Microsoft Active Directory or Azure ID. This enables administrators to efficiently manage permissions for automation devices in a standard way, exactly like it’s done for software applications in an IT infrastructure.
Performance enhancement across the board In addition to the new PLC compatibility, improved program optimization options and a faster program runtime analysis for service and maintenance have been implemented, resulting in an additional performance boost. The new version also offers opportunities for greater efficiency when it comes to engineering across different locations: An optimized data exchange between TIA Portal, TIA Portal Cloud and Project Server Cloud ensures seamless collaboration between all platforms. This includes a user-friendly edge app as well as automated cloud backup that ensures the availability of all the latest changes.
Another step toward improved performance is the testing function in the TIA Portal Test Suite where continuous regression tests guarantee reliable code quality for all machines. TIA Portal Version 20 supports test-driven development of the latest S7 programs and sequential testing.
The Siemens Industrial Copilot seamlessly connects generative AI with the TIA Portal to support automation engineers in their daily work. The new version ensures that important function and security updates are incorporated.